A new cytological record of two scarab beetle species from the genus Gymnopleurus Illiger, 1803 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

Karyological investigations on two Gymnopleurus spp.; Gymnopleurus miliaris (F.) and Gymnopleurus parvus (MacL.) are under taken in the present study. Meioformula of G. miliaris (17AA+Xyp) and G. parvus (8AA+Xyp) are presented. None of these beetles exhibited a modal polyphagan karyotype. However, Xyp was found to be the male sex chromosome mechanism. Most chromosomes are acro and subtelocentric. Change in the number and size of chromosomes in the karyotypes is suggestive of the Robertsonian fusion having played some role in the evolution of karyotype in this genus. The evolutionary trends in Gymnopleurus have been discussed.